USM PENANG, 11 June 2021 - Both Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) PPVs (Pusat Pemberian Vaksin) located at the main campus and the Bertam campus are all geared up to serve as vaccine administration centres for the Penang local community.  

The Special USM PPV Committee, which comprises of the University’s medical and non-medical staff as well as volunteers headed by USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Institutional Development), Professor Dr. Md Roslan Hashim, have been working round the clock to get both the centres ready to receive its first batch of vaccine recipients on 21 June 2021.

The main campus PPV is located at the Dewan Utama Pelajar (Dewan Peperiksaan), Jalan Bukit Gambir while the one in Bertam campus, under the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT), is called PPV Sains@Bertam, Jalan Bertam 2, Kepala Batas.   

Both PPVs are part of the 19 higher education institute vaccination centres (HEI PPV) proposed by the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) to assist and facilitate the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) in its efforts to provide the rakyat with more extensive access to the vaccination move, as announced by the Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad recently.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan said, USM is honoured to be able to offer its facilities, equipment, expertise and manpower, and take on the role as a HEI PPV to help the country achieve the targeted herd immunity of 80% against COVID-19.

“Since we are all new to this, we will begin small before ramping up the number of vaccinees in both PPVs in one week’s time according to our capabilities,” he said, while adding that USM is also looking forward to provide drive-through vaccination service similar to the one running at Hospital USM in Kubang Kerian, as well as mobile vaccination units soon.

He also said that USM is working closely with the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) and Penang State Health Department (JKNPP) to ensure that the centres are prepared according to the mandatory safety precautions and guidelines, and ready to serve the public safely and efficiently.

Both PPVs would operate from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (Monday - Friday) and 9.00 am to 1.00 pm (Saturday). It is closed on Sunday.

On June 3, the NIP Coordinating Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin visited the proposed site of the vaccination centre at the USM main campus, where he was given a briefing by Md Roslan. Also present from USM were the Board of Governors (LGU) Chairman, Dato’ Dr. Awang Adek Hussin and Faisal Rafiq.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photo: Ebrahim Abdul Manan